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what is the theory behind maple stands and racks?

I have not "heard" a maple amp stand or rack - using Billy Bags products now, which are made from steel and mdf - but don't grasp why maple would be a good material to use - quite the opposite. Maple is used for some electric guitars because it "rings" - it is very dense and causes notes to sustain, which is to say, it continues to vibrate for a long time. This would seem to be exactly the opposite of what one wants in a stand or a rack. If there is some claim that vibration is "drained away", well, if the rack is continuing to ring, that would likely cause acoustical feedback - the equipment isn't isolated from the thing it is sitting on. Can anyone who is not a vendor of these things explain the why of it, or relate positive experiences that seem to have a basis in fact?
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Showing 1 response by tweak1

tweak1
3,560 posts
 

For some 20+ years in the middle of my speakers, but set back, I had a vertical Solid steel vertical rack with first the supplied MDF shelving, then over time various thick wooden cutting boards (John Boos, etc), and a couple exotic shelves made with violin wood. However, the height of the rack bugged me as I was convinced it was messing with the sound stage and imaging. A couple years ago I got the urge to go horizontal with maple (IMO) quartz/granite/glass, etc ring: YMMV, but it was way too expensive, but I got super lucky and found someone selling a DIY solid maple table for $200!. The top is ~ 50 x ~ 28 x2. Not only was it more visually appealing, but the both the imaging, sound stage and warmth that was missing from the vertical rack improved in a huge ways

See my Virtual System photos of both

hth

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